Microvessel Density (MVD) in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate microvessel density (MVD) by expression of CD31 andCLEC14A in core biopsies from previously untreated patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and assessits prognostic significance. Methods: MVD was evaluated in core needle biopsies (n = 92), collected prior to anytreatment, from patients who were diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Immunohistochemistry forexpression of CD31 and CLEC14A were performed on these tumours. The median duration of follow-up was 9.3 years.The effect of prognostic factors on disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed using a Log ranktest and Cox regression model. Results: The clinical factors such as age, clinical nodal stage, stage and pathologicalnodal status were found to be significant in predicting overall survival by multivariate analysis (P 100), had inferior progression free survival and overall survival (P=0.5). There was no expression ofCLEC14A in any of the core needle biopsies whereas it was expressed in specimens from mastectomy from the samepatient. Conclusion: This is the first report of MVD in LABC prior to any treatment. The results suggest angiogenesiscould be a prognostic factor in LABC.